Circular-knitting machine



N. J. WINLUND. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

5 Sheets-Sheet IL.

(No Model.)

No. 585,496. Patented June 29, 1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- N. J. WINLUND.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINB.

No. 585,496. Patented June 29,1897.

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5 Sheets-Sheet, 4,

(No Model.)

N. J. WINLUND. CIRCULAR KNITIING MACHINE. No. 585,496. Patented June 29,1897.

- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

'N. J. WINLUND.

I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE; No'. 585,496. Patented June 29,1897.

NICHOLAS J. VVINLUNI OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,496, dated June 29, 1897. Application filed July 11, 1896. Serial No. 598,885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: B is a pattern-wheel supported by the base- .Be it known that I, NICHOLAS J .WINLUND, plate A and is free to rotate thereon. a citizen of the United States, residing at B B are cams on the under face of the Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and pattern wheel for controlling the fashioning- 5 State of Illinois, have invented certain new needles while narrowing.

and useful Improvements in Oircular-Knit- B are ratchet-teeth on the face ofthe pat ting Machines, of which the following is a tern-wheel B. specification. O is a needle-cylinder secured to the base The object of this invention is to produce plate A. ro acircular-knitting machine in which the num- C O are integral rings at the upper end of ber of needles employed in knitting the heel the needle-cylinder. is greater than the number used in forming C3 are needle-grooves cut through both of the toe, whereby the heel is made full and the rings 0 C the stocking sufficientlyloose over the instep. O are needles in the needle-grooves. 1. 5 In the machine herein shown and described C are coiled springs encircling so much of I also provide means for retaining the needles the needle-shanks as lie between the rings 0 in an upright position without employing the 0 In order to retain the needles in an upusual inclosing ring or band for that purpose, right position in the cylinder C, the adjacent by which means each needle is held independedges of the rings 0 C have been so chan- 2o ently of the others. neled as to leave projecting edges C 0 there- In the accompanying drawings, which form on for retaining the springs O and the neea part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top dles C in their cylinder (3. plan view of a knitting-machine embodying C are needle-slides, one of which lies in the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an each of the needle-grooves below its needle. 25 elevation of the head of theknitting-machine. O are vertically-movable segments for Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on dotted line 3 the needle-slides. The segment C extends 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on somewhat more than half-way around the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom needle-cylinder 0. plan view of the pattern-wheel, only the cams O are stems which support the segments 30 employed in narrowing while knitting the C 0 heels being shown, the cams governing the (Ware narrow horizontally-cxtending opennarrowing while knitting the toes being omitings through opposite sides of the needle-cylted. Fig. 6 is a view of the base-plate of the inder O.

machine, the needle-cylinder being cut away.- is a channel cut in the ring 0 35 Fig. 7is afragmental vertical section through 0 is a cord or band for retaining the neethe needle-cylinder, showing only one side die-slides (1 in the needlegrooves C thereof, together with the adjacent parts. D is a cam-ring of the usual form.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the mechanism D is a cogged ring above the cam-ring D. which produces the change in the cam-ring D are pins fixed in the cam-ring D and en- 40 from rotary to oscillatory motion, and vice tering openings in the coggcd ring D for versa. Fig. 9 is an end view of the same. causing the rings to rotate together. Fig. 10 is a face view of a cam-wheel. Fig. E is the bed of the supporting-frame E of 11 is an enlarged fragmental view of a needle the machine.

and the means for holding it in the needle- F is a main shaft journaled therein.

4 c linder. G is a 'overn0r-wheel loosel mounted on A is a base-plate of substantially the usual the shaft F, the periphery whereof is divided 5 7 form. into three circular parts.

A and A are radial grooves in the upper G are ratchet-teeth formed on one of the face of the base-plate. parts of the governor-wheel G. G G the remainder of those parts, are cam-surfaces.

These cam-surfaces are composed of two regularly-curved rings, each broken only by two depressions or pockets at nearly opposite points in their peripheries.

G is a wiper-cam of the usual form fixed on the main shaft F.

G is a two-arm rock-shaft.

G are bearings for the shaft G is a gravitypawl for engaging the ratchet-teeth G of the governor-wheel G.

G is a pivotal pin set in one of the arms of the rock-shaft G and forms a pivotal support for the pawl G G are cam depressions in the cam-surface G of the governor-wheel G. G are like depressions in the cam-surface G2 of the governor-wheel G.

II is a shaft, capable of an endwise-sliding movement, mounted on the bed E of the sup-- porting-frame.

H are the bearings of the shaft II.

H H are pins extending through openings in the shaft H and are capable of a free movement therethrough.

H II are fiat springs for the pins I1 I1 respectively, for thrusting the pins inward through the openings in the shaft II.

II is a pin extending through an opening in shaft H and lies between the spring I1 and the camsurface G of the governorwheel G.

II is a pin which extends through an opening in the shaft I-I, between the spring H and the cam-surface G of the governor-wheel G.

H is an arm fixed 011 the shaft II, its free end being in yoke form.

II is a pin extending inward from the shaft II and is fixed rigidly in relation thereto.

11 is a rock-shaft.

II is a bearing for the rock-shaft I1 H is an arm extending from and is fixed to the rock-shaft H and at its opposite end lies under and supports the stem 0 of the vertically-movable segment C.

H is a pin rigidly set in the rock-shaft H and engages the pin II".

II is a spring-actuated push-rod.

H are bearings for the push-rod H which bearings are fixed to the shaft H.

H is a coiled spring surrounding the pushrod II and tendingto actuate the push-rod H in one direction.

H is a pin fixed in one end of the push-rod H and extends inward therefrom.

H is a gravity-pawl pivoted upon the inner end of the pin 11 and engages the ratchetteeth 13 on the face of the pattern-wheel 13.

I1 is a pin fixed on the push-rod II and extends inward therefrom.

I is a wheel fixed on the shaft F.

I are two fin-cams fast to the face of the wheel I near its periphery. These fin-cams engage with the pin H slide the push-rod H against the action of the spring H and through the pawl II and the ratchet-teeth B rotate the pattern-wheel B.

I is a double wing-cam fixed on the periphery of the wheel I. This win g-cam engages with the pins 1 1 H alternately on either side of the wheel I, as the governor-wheel permits them to lie in the course of the wingcam 1 I are camgrooves in the face of the wheel I.

J is a gear-wheel loose on the main shaft F.

J is a hub extending from the gear J.

J is a channel formed in the hub J for receiving the yoke end of the arm H J is an opening in the gear-wheel J.

K is a shaft.

K is a gear meshing with the gear J and fixed on the shaft K.

K is a beveled gear mounted upon the shaft K.

K is a standard supporting the shaft K.

L is a rock-shaft capable of a slight endwise movement.

L are supporting-brackets for the rockshaft L..

L are fingers extending inward from the rock-shaft L, embracing the rim of the gearwheel J.

L is a right-angle pin fixed to the opposite end of the rock-shaft L and engages the camgroove 1 in the face of the wheel I during the operation of narrowing.

L is an arm fixed on the rock-shaft Lnear its middle portion. This arm lies under the stem 0 of the vertically-movable needleslide rest O and imparts to that rest a reciprocating motion during the narrowing process in knitting.

M is a bar extending through the lower part of the needle-cylinder and is fixed therein.

M is an upright stud in the center of the bar M.

M are arms pivotally mounted upon the stud M and extend through the openings 0 in the sides of the needle-cylinder O.

M are cam-rods adapted to lie in the radial grooves A A of the base-plate A and have upwardly-turned inner ends.

M are studs projecting upwardly from the rods M and engaging the cams B B of the pattern-wheel B.

M are downwardly-extending arms fixed in relation to the rods M.

M are springs connected with the arms M and tending to draw the rods M inward.

M are links connecting the arms M with the upwardly-turned ends of the rods M M M are segments for supporting the needle-slides 0 M are stems secured to the arms M for supporting the segments M and M.

N is an arm loose on the shaft I N is a pin set in the free end of the arm N and extends parallel with the shaft F. This pin is adapted to engage the opening J in the gear-wheel J. I

O is a rock-shaft journaled in the lower part of the supporting-frame E of the knit-- ting-machine.

O is an arm mounted on the shaft.

O is a rod connecting the free ends of the arms N O.

P is an eccentric fixed on the shaft F.

P is an eccentric-rod having a connection with the arm 0 intermediate its ends.

P is a pin extending from the face of the eccentric P and is adapted to enter and engage the opening J 3 through the gear-wheel J.

The gear-wheel J is free to be moved on the shaft F into such position that the pin P will enter the opening J 3 therein, and a continuous rotary motion will be thereby imparted to the gear-wheel J. When, however, the gear-wheel J is moved away from the eccentric and the pin N of the rock-arm N engages the opening J 3 of the gear-wheel J, the latter wheel will be oscillated on the constantly-revolving shaft F by reason of the action of the eccentric on the rock-arm O and the connection between that rock-arm O and the rockarm N. The gear-wheel J is shifted by the arm H as will be explained hereinafter.

R is a flat spring for holding thelong arm of the rock-shaft G upwardly against the cam G To operate the knitting-machine, motion is transmitted to the cam-ring D through the main shaft F, the gear-wheels J K, and the beveled gear K in the usual manner. In knitting round and round the cam-ring D is rotated continuously. In knitting back and forth it is oscillated. The segment 0 sup ports the back needles, which, when the machine is knitting back and forth, are elevated out of action. The segment O supports the fashioning-needles and during the operation of knitting back and forth has a verticallyreciprocat-ing movement. The segments M M alternate in a stepby-step movement toward each other around the needle-cylinder and pick up and hold out of engagement the fashioning-needles, first one on one side and then one on the other of the needle-cylinder. This alternate step-by-step movement is imparted to the segments M M through the pivoted arms M by the act-ion of the cams B B of the pattern-wheel B, which patternwheel during the operation of narrowing is rotated by the pawl H connected with the push-rod H, which is reciprocated longitudinally by the action of the pin H engaged by the fin-cams I of the wheel I and the spring 11 The governor-wheel G during the operation of the machine is constantly rotated by the pawl G, connected with the short arm of the rock'shaft G which is rocked by the cam G acting upon the long arm thereof. The machine knits aweb of uniform diameter until the governor-wheel G has turned to a point which will allow the spring H to push the pin H into the depression G in the governor-wheel G, when the spring H will project the pin I-Pinto the path of the wing-cam 1 The engagement of the wing-cam l with the pin I1 slides the shaft H endwise to the opposite limit of its throw, changes the rotary motion of the cam-ringD which latter lifts the needle-slide rest 0 Q and the back needles out of action, leaving only the fashioning-needles in action. Said endwise movement of the shaft H also moves the gear-wheel J through the arm H and throws the rock-shaftL into engagement with the cam-groove I in the face of the wheel I. The cam-groove I is so formed that it imparts a rocking motion to the shaft L, and by means of its connection with the segment C through the arm L and the stem 0 gives to the said segment 0 a vertically-reciprocating movement. As the pattern-wheel B is rotated the cam-rods M are forced outward against theaction of the springs M and as the segments M M are thereby caused to move alternately step by step toward each other around the needle-cylinder they pass one at a time, first from one side and then from the other, in alternation, beneath the lower ends of needle-slides C the segment M passing under the needle-slide adjacent thereto on one side and the segment M passing under the needle-slide adjacent thereto on the other. The remaining needle-slides and needles not held out of action by the segments M M again descend with the segment 0 into action, and after knitting across once are again elevated by the segment 0 and the segment M passes under another needle-slide and its needle and withdraws them from action. The segment 0 again descends with the remainder of the needle slidesand needles into act-ion, and the needles, after knitting across once more and knitting one less stitch than before, are again elevated by the segment 0 and the segment M passes under another needle-slide and its needle and withdraws it from action. When the operation of narrowing has been continued. to the extent desired, the cam-rods M are released by the cams B B on the pattern-wheel B, the studs M rest at the points z of said cam-surfaces, and the pattern-wheel ceases to rotate.

At the beginning of the narrowing process the studs M engage the cam-surfaces B B at w, and as the pattern-wheel B is turned the cam-surfaces press against the studs M and force their cam-rods M outward against the restraining action of the springs M.

When the pattern-wheel B is turned until the points a: of the cam-surfaces l3 l3? coincide with the studs M, the cam-rods M are suddenly released, because of the conformation of the cam-surfaces at the points 00, and are drawn inward by the action of the springs M thus causing the segments M M to fly backward, as before described, and let into action all the fashioning-needles except two, which the said segments had held out of action by their step-by-step movement toward one another around the needle-cylinder O. The

two needles remaining on the segments M M so remain because the points as are farther re moved from the center of the pattern-wheel 13 than the points w, and therefore do not per- B than the points 00, and when the studs'M coincidewith said points 'y two of the fashioning-needles will remain upon each of the segments M M The pattern-wheel B is turned as before, causing the cam-surfaces B B to force the cam-rods ll/I outward and producing thereby step-by-step advances of the segments M M As the segments M M range themselves underneath the reciprocated fashioning-needles they hold said needles out of action one by one, first fromone end of the row of fashioning-needles and then from the other, releasing them again as the points 00 and y pass under the studs M of the cam-rods M 7 At 00 the cam-rods'are held outward by the form of the cam-surfaces, so'that the segments M M clear themselves of all except one needle-slide each. At y two needles at each end of the row of fashioning-needles are retained upon the segments M M but at z the said segments clear themselves of all needle-slides, and all the fashioning-needles are-then in an operative position. This also is the position occupied by these needles when the points to are engaged by the studs M of the cam-rods M and before the fashioning processhad commenced.

The operation just described completes the process of narrowing for the heel,and the work is ready for round-and-round knitting.

During the process of narrowing just described the governor-wheel G is turned by its pawl Gr until at the completion of the narrowing it occupies such a position that the depression G therein coincides with and'admits the pin H which lies between the spring H and the face G of the governor-wheel G.

- This inward movement of the pin H (passing into the depression G permits the spring H to project the pin H into the path of the wing-cam I on the wheel I, which cam at its next revolution slides the shaft H endwise in its bearings and places the mechanism in position for round-and-round knitting. To this end and by the movement of the shaft H the gear-wheel J is removed from engagement with the arm N into engagementwith the cocentric P, the pin P of the eccentric entering the opening J 3 in the gear-wheel J, whereby a continuous rotary motion isimparted to the last-named gear-wheel. This movement of the shaft H also permits the rock-arm H with the segment 0 which it supports, to move downward, thus allowing the needles to be pressed downward into action by their springs 0 The narrowing for'the toe is performed in substantially the same manner as that for the heel described above with the exception that the points a and b in the cams of the patternwheel B are sufficiently removed from the center of that wheel to hold the segments M M from their extreme backward movement about the needle-cylinder, restricting the segment 0 to a manipulation of only one-half the needles in narrowing for the toe. As a consequence a portion of the needles used as fashioning-needles for the heel are back needles when the toe is being knit, they being held out of action by the segments M M". These fashioning-needles are picked up by the segments M M governed by the steep inclines in the cams of the pattern-wheel just succeeding the points 2, segment M taking three and segment M four needles from action at one movement.

The springs G which surround the needles O ,are compressed when the needles are raised in the needle-grooves by the segments 0 C and when the support of said segments 0 C is removed the springs force the needles downward into operative position. The springs also extend into the channels within the projecting edges 0 and C of the rings 0 C and insure the needles against displacement without the use of a band or cord for that purpose.

As suggested by the form of the cams B B of the pattern-wheel, the heel and toe of the stocking produced by my knitting-machine are each formed by the knitting of three narrowed gussets connected together at their edges.

I claim-- 1. I11 a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a needle therein, means for operatingthe needle to knit and a coiled spring surrounding the needle for retaining the needle in the needlecylinder substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a knitting'machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a needle therein, means for operating the needle to knit, and a coil-spring surrounding the needle-shank for pressing the needle longitudinally into an operative position substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, a needle therein, means for operating the needle to knit, a two-part needle-groove for the needle and a spring on the needle for retaining the needle in the groove, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a

needle-cylinder, a needle therein, means for operating the needle to knit,a two-part groove for the needle and a spring on the needle, which spring is compressed between the two parts of the needle-groove, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder having needle-grooves therein, needles in the grooves, means for operating the needles, a segment for supporting the fashioning-needles,m cans for raising and lowering the segment and means for holding certain of the needles out of action, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

G. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, two integral rings on the cylinder having a channelin the adjacent edges of the rings, needle-grooves formed in the rings, needles for the grooves and a spring coiled about the shank of eachneedle and included between the integral rings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A needle-cylinder for circular-knitting machines having two'integral circular rings, channeled in their adjacent edges and needlegrooves extending lengthwise of the cylinder through both of the rings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder having needle-grooves therein, needles in the needle-grooves, a cam for operating the needles, a segment for vertically moving the fashioning-needles, and segments for holding a part of the needles out of action, substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

9. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder having needle-grooves therein, needles in the grooves, a cam for actuating the needles, a segment supporting the fashioning-needles, means for raising and lowering the segment, two segments for holding a part of the needles out of action and means for moving the last-named segments into a position to support the idle needles, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having needle grooves therein, provided with needles, a cam for operating the needles, needle-slides, a segment for supporting certain of. the needle-slides and vertically moving the same, two segments for holding a part of the needles out of action, a pattern-wheel,means for rotating the patternwheel, a rod for each of the segments, a stud on each of the rods for engaging the patternwheel, and a connection between the rods and the last-named segments, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle cylinder having needle grooves therein, provided with needles and needleslides, a cam for operating the needles, means for moving the needle-cam, a segment for supporting the fashioning-needles, two segments for holding needles out of action, a pattern-wheel for moving the last-mentioned segments, rods having studs for engaging the pattern-wheel, springs for the rods and links for the rods for actuating the segments, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a knittingmachine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles for the cylinder, a cam-ring for operating the needles, a drivingshaft, a gear-Wheel loosely mounted and capable of asliding movement thereon, an arm loosely mounted'on the drivingrshaft, an eccentric fiXed on the shaft, a rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the eccentric and the rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the rockarm and the arm loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, a pin on the latter arm and a pin on the eccentric, an opening in the gear-wheel, coinciding with the pins,a connection between the gear-wheel and the cam-ring and means for moving the gear-wheel lengthwise on the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In a knitting-machine,in combination, a needle cylinder, needles for the cylinder, a cam-ring for operating the needles, a drivingshaft, a gear-wheel loosely mounted and capable of a sliding movement thereon, an arm loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, an cecentric fixed on the shaft, a rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the eccentric and the rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the rockarm and the arm loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, a pin on the latter arm and a pin on the eccentric, an opening in the gear-wheel, coinciding with the pins,a connection between the gear-wheel and the cam-ring, a slide-rod, an arm extending from the slide-rod to the gear-wheel, a cam-wheel for moving the slide rod and a governor-wheel for permitting such movement, substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

14. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder, needles for the cylinder, a camring for operating the needles, a drivingshaft, a gear-wheel loosely mounted and capable of a sliding movementthereon, an arm loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, an cecentric fixed on the shaft, a rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the eccentric and the rock-arm, a connecting-rod between the rockarm and the arm loosely mounted on the driving-shaft, a pin 011 the latter arm and a pin on the eccentric, an opening in the gear-wheel, coinciding with the pins, a connection between the gear-wheel and the cam-ring, a slide-rod, an arm extending from the slide-rod to the gear-wheel, a sliding pin in the slide-rod, a cam for engaging the pin and a governorwheel for moving the pin, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

NICHOLAS J. WINLUN D'.

Witnesses:

L. L. MILLER, L. L. MORRISON. 

